A protest and rally was held in Leeds today by residents campaigning to keep their local sports centre open.

About 150 residents of all ages and cultures took part in an hour-long march through Beeston and Holbeck this afternoon as part of their campaign to keep closure-threatened South Leeds Sports Centre open.

They finished with a rally outside the centre, which was due to close on Monday but has received a four-month reprieve by the council in order to give a community consortium run by social enterprise Tiger 11 the chance to put together a bid to take the building into community ownership.

The decision is due to be rubberstamped by the council's executive board on Tuesday - at a cost of almost £130,000. The opening of Morley's new leisure centre on Tuesday was due to trigger the closure.

Protesters aim to keep the pressure on new Leeds council leader councillor Keith Wakefield in their fight to stop the facilities closing.

Resident Stephen Peacock said the area desperatley needed the facilities, which were used by the whole community.

Another local resident, Asghar Khan, added:

"It would be a disgrace to see this centre close. There are lots of problems with anti-social behaviour in this area, we need all the facilities for young people that we can get."

Beeston Broncos rugby club secretary Phil Goodfield said the club used the centre's changing facilities. The club runs junior treams for youngsters in the area.He added:

"We need these facilities and I hope Tiger 11's bid is successful - we've just got to keep the centre open. It's vital to our future or for local youngsters."

One of the organisers, Sally Cieslik, from campaign group Splashback, added:

"The area is quite deprived and people tend to be quite unhealthy, I can't see how losing this facility is going to help anyone in the area."

And one woman, a swimmer, said: "I've used the pool for 14 years, it is always clean and has a nice atmosphere. I would be lost without it. I saw last night there was 24 young people using it - what would they be doing without these facilities?"

Local Labour councillor Patrick Davey also attended the rally and said: "We will keep on fighting to save this facility."

Local councillors Angela Gabriel and Adam Ogilvie were also present.

Campaigners say there are no other leisure facilities available within walking distance.

Jeremy Morton, from Tiger 11 which is looking to take the centre into community use, told the rally it was hoped £1.5 million would be piped into the facilities should funding bids be successful.

He added: "We are working on the plan eo ensure that it doesn't lose money."